The Military’s #MeToo Moment with Lucy C. Del Gaudio, Melissa Bryant, and Lindsay Church

In the wake of the murder of 20-year old Vanessa Guillen, an Army specialist, the military has faced an immense amount of scrutiny in how they investigate gender-based violence. In response to cries for accountability, a group of former members of the armed services have banded together to seek justice for Vanessa and her family to hold the military accountable for their inaction. Lucy C. Del Gaudio, Melissa Bryant, and Lindsay Church speak with Alejandra Y. Castillo on how they are advocating for Vanessa and providing a new blueprint for proper investigation of gender-based violence reports within the armed services. As calls for transparency and accountability increase, these women are leading the way to achieve justice, and making history along the way.

Please follow along @LadyDelDJ, @mabryant256 @lkmchurch, and contribute to the conversation to demand using the hashtag #JUSTICEFORVANNESSAGUILLEN on Twitter.

For more information on what YWCA is doing to support survivors of gender-based violence visit our website here.

Week Without Violence is part of a global movement with YWCAs across the country and around the world to end violence against women and girls. At YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. That’s why, for more than 20 years, YWCA has set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence. Join us from October 18 – 24, as we hold events nationally and locally, share information and stories, advocate, and more with a common goal in mind: together, we can end gender-based violence. During this week we will be partnering with Our Voice, Helpmate, Youth Outright, Family Justice Center, and Mountain Child Advocacy to increase awareness of the resources available within our community. Join us on social media by using this profile frame all week long.

Flat Rock Playhouse is proud to partner with The Breath Project to create an archive of 8 minute and 46 second works of live theater from multidisciplinary theater artists of color who are responding to this moment in history. All submissions that meet the Breath Project guidelines will be featured in the archive, and as partners in the project, CJ Barnwell will be the curator from our theater who will help select pieces from the archive to feature in a virtual festival in Fall 2020. For those who do not have access to video recording equipment, the Playhouse is able to offer the use of the Mainstage and video recording support. If you are interested in recording on the Mainstage, please email [email protected].

To be considered for the Fall 2020 virtual festival, please submit your piece by Sept. 14, 2020. For more information on the submission process, the mission of the Breath Project and other partner theaters, visit www.thebreathproject2020.com.

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce has partnered with the online learning platform Coursera to launch the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative in South Carolina.

The program will allow those displaced from work due to the COVID-19 pandemic to gain skills and participate in worker retraining by granting free access to Coursera’s more than 4,000 courses and certifications in areas such as business, technology, data science, health and social sciences. Participants may also pursue professional certifications including the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

Interested and eligible unemployment claimants who received an email from SC DEW must register with Coursera by Oct. 31, 2020. Participants may take as many courses as they would like but must complete the classes by Dec. 31, 2020.

The message is simple – COVID-19 has made a severe impact on the blood supply and The
Blood Connection is asking the community to donate blood as soon as possible to support the
critical need of blood for local hospitals in this area.

To find a blood drive: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/zip
To find a center (5 in Upstate, 2 in Western NC): https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/centers
Those interested in hosting a blood drive in the community: thebloodconnection.org/host-a-drive<http://thebloodconnection.org/host-a-drive>

• Officially Licensed
• 100% cotton/blend
• Made in the USA

When you donate to Rebuild Upstate, you’re doing so much more than just helping us purchase lumber and tools.

Fund Grab Bars

Grab bars prevent an elderly person from falling.

Fund Roof Repair

Provide materials to patch a roof that protects the rest of the home from rot.

Fund Floor Repair

Provide materials for a floor repair that will provide safety and peace of mind.

Why Donate?

It takes approximately $800,000+ a year to keep the House operating. Every donation helps us keep the doors open to care for the children and no donation is too small.

What Can I Donate?

We accept both monetary donations and material items.The material items can be clothing, personal hygiene items, bedding, electronics, books, children’s items, furniture, etc. We accept almost any item in good condition, if you’re not sure about an item give us a call at (864) 639-6533 or (864) 646-2941.

How Can I Donate?

Material goods may be dropped off at the House or Thrift Store during business hours. Or….you can now call us at (864)639-6533 to arrange pick-up of your items.

Monetary donations:

Checks may be mailed to:   Helping Hands of Clemson

PO Box 561

Clemson, SC 29633

The Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program can award between $2,500-$25,000 in grants to South Carolina businesses with 25 or fewer employees that experienced negative business impact due to COVID-19.

Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program

Provides grants to minority and small businesses to reimburse qualifying expenditures for providing services or revenue loss due to COVID-19.

Grant Awards: Will range from $2,500 to $25,000

Eligibility Criteria:

• Employ 25 or fewer employees
• Physically located in South Carolina
• In operation from October 13, 2019 to present
• Can demonstrate a financial or operational impact due to COVID-19

Application Window: October 19, 2020 – November 1, 2020

Application: Will be available on October 19, 2020.

Communications/Training Materials:

• Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program Overview

The South Carolina Department of Commerce and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced the launch of a new online recycling tool that creates a network for recyclable materials. The Recycling Markets Directory is a collaborative resource that connects companies with recyclable waste products with other organizations that can utilize the materials.

America’s national parks belong to all of us. They connect us to the natural world and root us to our nation’s rich and fascinating history.

National parks exist because people had the foresight to protect the wonder of these unique places for future generations. The parks are a legacy that has been handed down to us; it is up to us to prove that we are worthy of that legacy by continuing to protect and preserve these iconic locations for the generations that come after us.

That’s the idea behind our annual Preserve Our Parks Fund Drive. In order to provide the resources for the crucial work that’s needed in our parks in 2021, we must raise $1,332,000 before December 31.

As an added incentive, when you donate to the Preserve Our Parks Fund Drive, you are able to send a beautiful eCard featuring our national parks to whomever you want. Let your friends, colleagues, and loved ones know how important our national parks are to you.

The Nonprofit Relief Grant Program can award between $2,500-$50,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations registered in South Carolina that were hindered by COVID-19.

Nonprofit Relief Grant Program

Provides grants to nonprofit organizations to reimburse qualifying expenditures for providing services or revenue loss due to COVID-19.

Grant Awards: Will range from $2,500 to $50,000

Eligibility Criteria:

• Designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by the Internal Revenue Service
• Registered as a public charity with the South Carolina Secretary of State
• Physically located and providing services in South Carolina
• In operation from October 13, 2019 to present
• Can demonstrate a financial or operational impact due to COVID-19

Application Window: October 19, 2020 – November 1, 2020

Application: Will be available on October 19, 2020.

Communications/Training Materials:

• Nonprofit Relief Grant Program Overview

During peak “leaf season” (November 12 – January 15), if your yard waste isn’t collected on your regular trash/recycling pickup day, it will be collected the following day. Please place materials at the curb by 7 a.m. and follow the guidelines below. The City will collect leaves, grass clippings and tree limbs/branches that are no more than six feet long and six inches in diameter. 

• Rake leaves into a loose pile at the curb (no bagging)
• Keep leaf pile separate from tree limbs/branches
• Remove rocks, litter and other debris from leaves
• Make sure piles are at least 3 feet from each other and from other obstacles
• Keep piles of leaves and grass clippings at least a foot from the curb to prevent them from being swept into the storm drain
• Remove vehicles from street to ensure trucks can access yard waste piles

Also, please don’t place pumpkins at the curb with your yard waste. They can’t be collected by the City’s automated trucks. Instead, compost or dispose of them in your trash container.